Chapter 82: Wen Zheliu's calf was constantly twitching and was also severely swollen...
The pain was like the bite of ants. He targeted Wen Zheliu's juicy peach, which broke the skin with a single bite. He took seven or eight bites in a row, but the pain didn't subside.
"Xiaobai, Xiaobai..."
Wen Zheliu found it really hard to resist being alone, so he had no choice but to wake up Xiaobai who was waiting in the ear room.
His voice was like ethereal smoke that would dissipate with the wind, and each word was connected by a faint breath.
Xiaobai scrambled to his feet and said, "Sir, what's wrong?"
Under the candlelight, Wen Zheliu's face was pale, and his forehead was covered with glistening cold sweat.
"Legs... My legs are twitching... Hold it down, it..."
"Yes." Xiaobai moved as swiftly as a leopard, firmly holding down Wen Zheliu's twitching leg. Seeing Wen Zheliu holding his stomach, he asked again, "Does your stomach feel okay?"
“…No problem.”
Not only was Wen Zheliu's face pale, but there was also little color on his lips. He looked as if all his energy had been drained away.
No one would believe such a sick person if he said he was not feeling unwell. Xiaobai, who had followed him for several months, knew the secret.
But if His Highness doesn't say anything, what can he do?
Wen Zheliu tilted his head slightly, letting the cold sweat oozing from his forehead avoid his eyelids and drip onto the bed.
Ever since his belly got bigger, he felt uncomfortable everywhere on his body. Even when he was just reviewing government documents, the slightest soreness in his hands would pull on his fragile belly.
Not only is there cramping pain, but there is also heaviness and swelling.
When he stood up, the big belly pressed on his hips and hurt. When he lay down flat, he had difficulty breathing and could only lie on his side.
At this moment, my calf twitched and my stomach started to beat again.
"hiss!"
Wen Zheliu gritted his teeth and endured for a moment, cold sweat pouring down like heavy rain, soaking his entire body in water. However, even in such a miserable state, the pain in his legs and abdomen did not subside at all, and even took advantage of his discomfort to intensify.
Xiaobai can still help with the twitching calf, but the twitching abdomen is sensitive and must not be touched by him.
Xiaobai was quite perceptive. While he was holding Wen Zheliu's legs, he observed Wen Zheliu's expression and cautiously suggested, "Your Highness, holding your legs down all the time isn't working. How about I give you a massage?"
Wen Zheliu touched his upper and lower lips together and uttered two words.
"You come."
Ignoring his sweat-soaked clothes, he spoke in a nonchalant manner. However, when Xiaobai really rubbed his muscles, the calmness on his face immediately disappeared.
He knew it would hurt, but he never imagined it would hurt so much!
It was as if thousands of people had tied him up on the execution rack with hemp ropes as thick as a baby's arm, and then picked up large stones and smashed them onto his fragile body repeatedly.
When Xiaobai didn't rub it, his legs just twitched.
He started to rub it, but Wen Zheliu became panicked, as if struck by lightning, his whole body felt numb and he couldn't move.
If it just hurts, that's fine.
But the pain and soreness of the twitching tendons is unbearable.
Wen Zheliu's eyes rolled back and he fainted.
Before he lost consciousness, there was only one thought in his mind.
It's so uncomfortable.
Wen Zheliu was in a daze for most of the day and woke up in the afternoon of the next day, just in time to see Situ Yun sending Dugu Qiu to announce the imperial edict.
"By the providence of Heaven, the Emperor proclaims: The Crown Prince is virtuous and kind, and Murong Xuan's daughter, Murong Jin, is well-read and well-read. The two are a perfect match. I am deeply pleased, and therefore I grant you marriage. I hope you will become husband and wife, and love each other deeply."
As he expected, Situ Yun really pointed out Murong Jin as his "legal wife".
Not wanting to let anyone know of his relationship with Dugu Qiu, Wen Zheliu, who was six months pregnant, still knelt on the ground in a proper manner, with his hands raised, his face expressionless: "Your son, Situ Zheliu, accepts the order."
Due to official duties, Dugu Qiu was not in a position to say much about what was hidden behind Situ Yun's decree of marriage. He only gave a few brief instructions on behalf of Situ Yun and then handed the decree to Wen Zheliu.
Wen Zheliu had already reached an agreement with Murong Jin. He remained calm as he took the imperial edict slowly and replied, "Thank you, Queen Mother, for your gift."
The "arranged marriage" made Wen Zheliu, Situ Yun and the Murong clan very satisfied.
Murong Jin did what he said and kept his distance from Wen Zheliu throughout the wedding. Even in front of his elders Situ Yun and Murong Xuan, he used the excuse of feeling unwell to avoid drinking wine with Wen Zheliu. To avoid suspicion, he even entered the bridal chamber with a smile on his face and then lay on the table in the bridal chamber all night.
Situ Yun "sold" Mei'er and got the loyalty that Murong Xuan pretended to offer as he wished.
Since she "married" Murong Jin, Wen Zheliu was worried. When He Jiyue heard the news that her husband was abducted, she wondered if she would ride her horse and rush straight into the territory of Xiyue.
After three or five terrifying days, there was still no news from the Central Plains, so he began to relax.
It would be good if I could keep it a secret from He Jiuyue.
After the "marriage", with Murong Jin's help, Wen Zheliu became a little lazy about binding her belly, and always used the excuse of "Miss Murong dislikes that I am too thin, and feeds me too much vegetables, so I have a little indigestion" to evade Situ Yun, who had his eyebrows twisted to the sky.
Thanks to the fact that he didn't have to restrict his stomach, his appetite was huge, and he kept stuffing food that he hadn't eaten in more than ten years into his mouth.
Xiaobai was stunned to see Wen Zheliu's figure becoming more and more plump and beautiful.
Before, he had to put a lot of effort into persuading Wen Zheliu to eat a palm-sized pancake, but now he didn't need to persuade her anymore and Wen Zheliu had three dishes and a soup in one meal.
Your Highness, you eat too much, don’t you?
Unable to persuade the stubborn Wen Zheliu, Xiaobai hurriedly called Helan Yuan over and asked him to take Wen Zheliu's pulse to see what was wrong. After Helan Yuan checked Wen Zheliu's pulse and confirmed that he was safe, he clapped his hands and smiled.
"Being able to eat is a blessing, Guard Bai. Your Highness is already thin, and she finally managed to get over the stomach discomfort from pregnancy. She is currently in a weak state. It's time to eat more to replenish her body."
As she said, it was a good thing that Wen Zheliu had a big appetite. He ate both meat and vegetables and worked diligently to fill his stomach. He gained weight and his face became more radiant and attractive.
His "wife" Murong Jin inexplicably received praise from Situ Yun, "You are destined to support others."
But when everything develops to the peak, it is inevitable that it will go downhill. Wen Zheliu's state of eating gods and Buddhas who stand in his way lasted for more than a month, and began to develop in a strange direction.
At first, he was tired from reviewing official duties, so he went for a walk in the lotus pond. He was lost in thought at the lotus flowers in the Imperial Garden and licked his lips.
"Xiaobai, I want to eat lotus flowers."
After saying that, he rolled up his sleeves and was about to jump into the lake.
Xiaobai shouted "No", and immediately stretched out his arms to hug Wen Zheliu who was pretending to take off his shoes and socks. He loudly ordered his subordinates to go to the imperial kitchen to inform him and bring back a plate of lotus pastries.
When it was brought to Wen Zheliu, he waved his hand and said that what he wanted to eat was not lotus flowers, but locust flower honey.
Xiaobai did not suspect anything and went to the imperial kitchen in person. He brought back the best locust flower honey to the East Palace. Wen Zheliu frowned again and said that the locust flower honey tasted sweet, but the shape was not good enough. The honey cake sent by the imperial kitchen yesterday was more unique in shape.
Xiaobai was tortured by Wen Zheliu so much that he ran around everywhere and lost a lot of weight.
Xiaobai didn't mind going for a walk to see what Wenzheliu wanted to eat during the day, but at midnight, when he was sleeping soundly in bed, he suddenly heard a weak voice in his ears.
"Xiaobai, Xiaobai..." It was like calling a soul.
It’s almost the Ghost Festival now, and there are so many ghosts in the palace. Could it be that he really encountered one?
Xiaobai opened his eyes suddenly, breaking out in a sweat as he met Wen Zheliu's round eyes, shining in the moonlight. "...What are your instructions, Your Highness?"
"Tanghulu, I want to eat Tanghulu."
Wen Zheliu sat down on his bedding, not minding the hard wooden board, and even swung his legs back and forth.
"Quick, ask the kitchen to make candied haws."
It was rare to see Wen Zheliu, who was always calm and composed, showing such a childish side. Xiaobai's heart trembled, and he immediately put on his coat, rushed to the small kitchen, and called the cook from his sleep.
The candied haws cooked in the middle of the night were hurriedly brought to Wen Zheliu's mouth. He took a small bite and spat it into the spittoon.
"No, that's not the taste."
Xiaobai was confused: "Your Highness, what's wrong? Isn't this just a candied haws, sweet and gourd-shaped?"
“It’s just different.”
Wen Zheliu's eyes, which had been curved just now, were now filled with tears. She snapped the stick holding the candied haws and said, "It's wrong if He Wuhuan didn't buy it."
"He Wuhuan? Is it...?" Xiaobai took a long time to understand that the "Wuhuan" in "He Wuhuan" was the pen name of He Jiuyue. The He Wuhuan mentioned by Wen Zheliu was He Jiuyue.
"But Your Highness, the princess is not here. How can I buy you candied haws?" he asked naively.
Hearing the sound of willow branches being cut, he stood up like a cat.
"You're talking nonsense! She would buy it for me! She has bought it for me before, and she picked out the plumpest and most beautiful bunch. It was so sweet and delicious! You're not her, go away!"
Xiaobai hid away and carefully picked up Xueyu to coax her. Wen Zheliu left Xueyu, who had her eyes wide open, behind and continued to wave his hand firmly to drive Xiaobai away.
Xiaobai stood outside and let out a long sigh.
When will His Highness be able to meet He Da Sima again? He couldn't wait any longer.
As Wen Zheliu's belly grew bigger, her temper became more unpredictable. She even cried bitterly in the middle of the night. The next day, she got up from the bed and looked calm and composed again.
Fortunately, his temper was limited to the East Palace, and no one knew about it except Xiaobai.
Xiaobai was unable to rest in the ear room for seven or eight days a year, so he simply moved his bedding out and waited outside when he heard the order to fold the willow.
When Wen Zheliu saw this, he just waved his hand.
"But it's stuffy inside and cool outside. I want to rest outside too."
Xiaobai was tired of saying "you can't do that" and couldn't persuade Wen Zheliu no matter how hard he tried. Helplessly, he cleared a space in the yard and moved Wen Zheliu's bedding outside.
Unlike the capital city in the Central Plains, Xiyue is not like the spring all year round. It is just a little cold in winter, with continuous snow in winter, and very stuffy in summer.
Even the sound of willow branches being cut makes me feel hot.
On summer nights, with a cool breeze, he rested in the open air in the courtyard. He woke up less and less often in the middle of the night due to the stuffy heat, and the dark circles under his eyes disappeared. Wherever he went, civil and military officials praised him for his good complexion.
Wen Zheliu was not proud of her appearance. Instead, she touched her growing belly and felt anxious.
It's not good to tie it up all the time.
Whenever he returned to the East Palace after court, Wenzheliu would quickly take off his outer clothes and loosen the cloth belt that was roughly wrapped around him several times.
The snow-white pregnant belly couldn't wait to pop out.
Perhaps because it was not exposed to the light, this bulging belly looked much more delicate than the skin on Wen Zheliu's hand.
But because of his big belly, Wen Zheliu's movements were inevitably clumsy. Not only did his calves keep cramping, but they were also badly swollen. The pair of boots that he had just made to fit him when he arrived in Xiyue were now a little too tight to fit him.
Well, let’s take off our boots first.
Wen Zheliu leaned forward to take a look, but the belly was across the middle, and when he lowered his head, he couldn't even see the tip of his boots.
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